Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, while we were here considering this rule the Committee on Rules was meeting and reported out the conference report to accompany H.R. 4818, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005, and providing for consideration of H.J. Res. 114, making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2005, and for other purposes. I bring it to the attention of the body that that particular rule, if this same day rule passes and then its undertaking, will allow the members of this body one hour of debate on the rule and one hour of debate on spending upwards of $388 billion, or more as it were. Now, when we have passed the omnibus, and it will happen sometime today, the law requires that the President of the United States will have 10 days in which to review the omnibus provisions. What is amazing to me is that the House of Representatives Members are constrained by not knowing. My colleague, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions), and I have not seen this legislation. We have not read it. We may have participated in some part of the regular process of some of the particulars, but much of what is in this bill no member of the House of Representatives other than a handful have seen it at all. So the law requires that the President of the United States and his team of people rightly have an opportunity to review the provisions that are passed in this body and the other body, and they get ostensibly what will amount to 20 days, and many of the Members in this body will not get 20 minutes to read what it is that we are passing in spending the American taxpayers' money. No, I am not proud of the process. There may be substantive things in the bill that will help Americans, but you and no one else can tell me that by avoiding regular order, by avoiding the way legislation ought be presented in this country. You cannot tell me that today you can call your constituents and tell them precisely what is in this bill. I know I cannot. I do not think that is right, and I do not think any Member of this House believes it is right. Do you have the power? Of course you do. Can you continue down this path? Of course you can. You do so at your peril because ultimately the American people will come to understand that you cannot have deficit and borrowed money, run a war, it used to be called having guns and butter. I think my friends in the majority think we can have guns, butter, ice cream and cookies. It is not going to work. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004, the Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act of 2004, and the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004. These three pieces of legislation are critically needed. Our men and women in uniform exemplify the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people to securing freedom and democracy throughout the world. We owe it to our Armed Forces and veterans to ensure that their benefits are protected. The Personnel Enhancement Act of 2004 sets forth new pay provisions for physicians and dentists employed by the Veterans Health Administration that will increase their income. This bill requires, among other provisions, that base pay be uniform nationwide and that performance pay be linked to individual achievements. This bill further provides for pay that is tailored to several variables, such as geographic region, area specialty, the nature of the assignment, and individual experience. The Veterans Benefit Improvement Act of 2004 increases the maximum housing loan guarantee amount for which veterans are eligible and also increases the voluntary contribution amount that active duty members of the Armed Forces may make in order to receive increased monthly educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill. The Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004 allows the principal office of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims to be in the Washington, D.C., and metropolitan area instead of restricting it to the District of Columbia. The bill also expresses the sense of Congress that a courthouse and justice center should be provided for the Court, if feasible, by the Pentagon. Mr. Speaker, these three bills will improve the services available to our country's armed services personnel and veterans. Those who put their life on the line to fight for the continued freedom this country enjoys should be entitled to a support system that meets their needs. These three pieces of legislation do just that. I urge my colleagues to support all three bills.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I might comment that I thought perhaps my friend was on a talk show where one of the hosts asked him a question, and as is typical of us, we give nice long answers without specifically answering the question. I just put out again for my friend that the President has signed two of the appropriation measures. We have been here, you and I, late into the year doing our work, and there have been other times when this has not been done pursuant to the Constitution. That does not make it right. Basically, what we have done, we have borrowed money from foreign investors in order that we might go about giving tax cuts, which ultimately will allow that we will pay greater interest on the deficit over a period of time, and your children and mine, and their children, are going to pay this debt. Now, my colleague can name it anything he wants to, but we have a responsibility here in this body to pass those 13 appropriation measures. And the real reason we cannot pass them is because we have decided that we want to give tax cuts, and we cannot do the things that are necessary for highway transportation and child tax care; and I could go on and on. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise only to engage my colleague in a colloquy. The gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) says the words ``American people.'' Well, there are 55 million American people that probably have some differences with some of the things that the gentleman has discussed. Let me join my good friend in saying to him unequivocally that all of the things that he says that passed this body doubtless are good things from his point of view. But there are some that are not good things from other people's points of view. Now, I would ask the gentleman a question: Did the President of the United States sign all 13 appropriations bills as is mandated in the United States Constitution to be done by this body by October 1 of each fiscal year? Did the President sign 13 appropriations measures? And answer the next question: How many did he sign?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from Texas.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions) for yielding me this time, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as has already been explained, under Rule 15 of the House rules, bills may be considered under suspension of the rules only on Mondays and Tuesdays. The 108th Congress has approved the consideration of legislation under suspension of the rules on Wednesdays. Therefore, this resolution is required in order for the House to consider any bill under suspension of the rules today. Let me be clear from the onset, Mr. Speaker. The first day of the session or last day of the session, it does not really matter. I and so many others in this body on both sides of the aisle have grave concerns about handling bills outside the normal parameters of the way the House should conduct its business. When the House does operate this way, it effectively curtails our rights and responsibilities as serious legislators. Frankly, Members should be very wary of allowing the leadership to usurp our rights. I understand the circumstances and the end-of-the-session deadline of which the majority speaks, but their plan is for us to leave today or tomorrow without passing 11 of the 13 bare essential appropriations bills that each Congress is constitutionally mandated to pass into law. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving today or tomorrow without passing a highway reauthorization bill, the only legislation this Congress would have considered that actually had the potential to create jobs. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving today or tomorrow without passing comprehensive energy legislation. We are planning on leaving tomorrow or today without extending the child care tax credit to all working families. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving today or tomorrow without increasing the minimum wage. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving today while 44 million or more Americans remain uninsured. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving today or tomorrow without extending unemployment benefits for 1.9 million Americans who lost their jobs during President Bush's first term in office. Shame on us. We are planning on leaving tomorrow or today without doing anything to extend the solvency of Social Security. Shame on us. Just yesterday, my friends in the majority voted to again raise the debt limit. They added billions and possibly trillions more to our national debt, leaving our children and grandchildren to pick up the tab for generations to come, and they call themselves the party of fiscal responsibility. Shame on them. Footnote right there: Something that is not discussed in this body very much, nor was it discussed in the national debate that just concluded with President Bush and Senator Kerry, is the fact that the dollar around the world is troubled, to say the least, and that can have implications for the globe. Somewhere in all of this deficit- building, some of us are going to have to begin to do more than green- eye-shade talk in explaining to the American public the implications of the deficits that we are running on the currency that is the currency of the realm of the world. For the last 2 years, the majority has been so busy trying to keep its job that it has not done its job. Shame on them. The Republican leadership has also assured us that the Minority Leader will receive no less than 2 hours notice of any bill before it comes to the House floor. We expect that this assurance will be honored by the majority as well as previous agreements that have been reached between both sides of the aisle on the practices of considering legislation as a suspension. This includes the unwritten rule of not bringing controversial legislation to the floor under suspension of the rules. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Palm Beach County School District for achieving a rating of ``Best'' in the report released by the America Prepared Campaign on Preparedness in America's Schools. In the twenty school districts rated on their emergency preparedness regarding terrorism, Palm Beach County scored in third place. The America Prepared Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan initiative that uses the expertise of national leaders on a range of matters to give citizens the tools and information they need to prepare themselves and their families for a large-scale disaster, particularly a terrorism event. In their report entitled ``Preparedness in America's Schools: A Comprehensive Look at Terrorism Preparedness in America's Twenty Largest School Districts,'' the foundation examined how well these school districts are prepared to protect their students in the event of a terrorist attack or other major emergency. With 193 schools and more than 160,000 students, the School District of Palm Beach County was lauded for its ``long history of robust school security and safety efforts.'' School District Police Department Chief James Kelly was singled out for his focus on implementing effective and efficient security methods, such as identification badges for school personnel, including students, a GPS tracking system for county school buses, and the introduction of violence-intervention programs. This report also cited the School District's outstanding use of communication, employing the use of the existing local notification system rather than a brand-new, expensive phone tree. This method ensures that parents and local officials have up-to-date emergency information. While the School District has every right to feel proud of their accomplishment, officials know that there is still plenty of work to be done. The school district has, for example, applied for a grant to print an emergency preparedness pamphlet in four languages to be distributed to every home. Not only would families with children in public school receive this pamphlet, but so would families with students in private and charter schools. Mr. Speaker, I commend the Palm Beach County School District for its efforts to prepare students, faculty, parents, and community members for emergency situations.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian. Detailing the lives, beliefs, histories, and stories of thousands of years of Native American life in North America, this museum catalogs the important and unique contribution of Native Americans to the cultural legacy of the United States. It is fitting that the National Museum of the American Indian is located on the National Mall at the footsteps of the Capitol Building. We are all reminded that, except for the people this museum celebrates, we are immigrants to this land. We have all come to this country from different corners of the world: some from Europe, some from Asia, others from Africa, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Islands. In a way, all of us are guests to this continent, and the American Indian Museum reminds us that we have a responsibility to care not only for our country but for the land we live on, the oceans we are surrounded by, and, most especially, the native peoples who were here first. We forgot sometimes what life was like before we immigrants came here. Our land was not always called the United States, and the people here were not always called Americans. The nations that made up the Native American spectrum had different cultures and different histories, but often shared similar beliefs, such as the power of the relationship between humans and nature, the wisdom of ancestors, and the particular order of the universe. Mr. Speaker, the National Museum of the American Indian reminds us of the important legacy of the Native American community as representatives of our nation's history, the destructive and the creative ideas that built our country. We are privileged to have access to this invaluable collection of artifacts from a history that once was and memories from a present that is still very much alive. Once again, I celebrate the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian, and I encourage all Americans to visit this museum to better understand the history of our nation and those who came before it.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you as a citizen of a state that has been devastated by four major hurricanes in the past several weeks. For the first time in a century, four hurricanes, Charley, Ivan, Frances and Jeanne, hit Florida, within one month. My district, in particular has been forced to deal with the most horrendous effects of these vicious natural disasters. As the devastation from these Hurricanes struck my state, district, and constituents, the service and resolve of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) proved to be outstanding. On behalf of all my constituents, I would like to commend the dedicated service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its employees. The citizens of Florida would not have been able to withstand the disastrous effects of these hurricanes if it were not for the fortitude and service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). They've never hesitated to fly into the eye of a hurricane to gather information about possible landfall, and NOAA was one of the primary agencies that my office dealt with in seeking information and expert advice to combat the dangerous situation my constituents were placed in because of these storms. When people needed to be warned of these storms, NOAA was there to respond. NOAH and its employees are a tremendous service to my office and constituents. In this time of crisis, NOAA's National Hurricane Center provided 496 live television interviews and 567 telephone briefings to the media. The information contained in these briefings was relayed to millions of Floridians, allowing for the safe evacuation of more than 4 million Florida residents during Hurricane Frances alone. All together, more than 1,000 hurricane watches, warnings, and advisories were issued during Hurricanes Charley, Ivan, Frances and Jeanne. NOAA provided updated satellite images of all four Hurricanes every five minutes over the days leading to their landfall. For more than 30 years, NOAA, has been working for America every day. Their knowledge, data gathering, and service have saved the lives of so many. From providing timely and precise weather, water and climate forecasts to monitoring the environment and making our nation more competitive through safe navigation and examining changes in the oceans, NOAA is on the front lines in the service of our great country. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the service of such a valued Federal institution such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, epic floods, death, and starvation. Unfortunately for the people of Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands these are not Biblical times of which I speak, but the here and now. Mr. Speaker, Tropical Storm Jeanne and Hurricane Ivan have particularly devastated Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands. There are no structures in place to respond to the needs of the populations, especially in areas like Gonaives, St. George and Grand Cayman, where Jeanne and Ivan hit hardest. The unusual and extraordinary hurricane activity in the Caribbean during the 2004 season has prevented many Caribbean nationals in the United States from returning to their home countries, and for these countries to receive their repatriation. Responding to these dire needs, I have introduced the ``Emergency Relief for Caribbean Nationals Act,'' which designates Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands under section 24 of the Immigration and Nationality Act in order to make nationals of those countries eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Mr. Speaker, if there was ever a time for the federal government to grant Temporary Protected Status it is now. TPS has been granted in the past to nationals of Sudan, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, Burundi, Bosnia-Herzegovina, El Salvador and Guatemala due to political unrest in those countries. Also, TPS was granted to Hondurans and Nicaraguans after Hurricane Mitch in 1998 and to Salvadorans after an earthquake in 2001, and to Montserratians in 1995 after a volcano eruption. Sadly, Tropical Storm Jeanne and Hurricane Ivan caused similar devastation and suffering in Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands, and in the same way merit TPS. The startling facts of the natural disaster in the Caribbean are the following: Tropical Storm Jeanne came ashore on the Island of Hispaniola, lashing first the Dominican Republic and then Haiti on September 16. When Jeanne hit, Haiti was already struggling to deal with political instability and the aftermath of serious floods in May. Nevertheless, Tropical Storm Jeanne hit Haiti with devastating force. More than 1,500 people are now known to have died and more than 1,000 are missing. Also, more than 300,000 people have been left homeless. The situation is so calamitous that Haiti's Prime Minister Grerard Latortue said after visiting the stricken northern city of Gonoies, ``We have a problem with bodies: there is a risk of epidemic. If you can picture this: there is no electricity, the morgues are not working, there is water everywhere.'' Only weeks earlier, Hurricane Ivan, the strongest storm to hit the Caribbean in a decade, pounded Grenada. Hurricane Ivan killed 39 people in Grenada and left 40,000 of its 90,000 people living in 183 houses, schools and churches that have been converted into shelters. Grenada's capital, St. George, was hit by 125 mph winds--flattening homes and disrupting power. The storm destroyed the city's emergency operations center, the main prison, many schools, and damaged the main hospital. Now an environmental health hazard has arisen in Grenada. The runoff, which contains pathogens from several sources, including human waste, is contaminating rivers where people are washing and bathing. Thereafter, Hurricane Ivan blasted the Cayman Islands with 150 mph winds that ripped roofs off houses, uprooted trees and caused flooding across the British territory. 15 to 20 percent of homes on the eastern part of the Cayman Islands were completely destroyed, and another 50 percent suffered significant damage. The extraordinary and temporary conditions caused by nature, and resulting in floods, epidemics and other environmental disasters in Haiti, Grenada, and Cayman Islands warrant granting their nationals Temporary Protected Status. Giving TPS to people from Haiti, Grenada and the Cayman Islands is consistent with the national interest of the United States, and denotes the values and morals that have made this nation strong. Therefore, I urge you to cosponsor the ``Emergency Relief for Caribbean Nationals Act.''

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Relief for Life-Saving Blood Donors Act, a bill to provide a tax deduction for the selfless act of donating blood. Each year, more than 4.5 million Americans need a life-saving blood transfusion, and about 25 percent of all Americans will need a blood transfusion at least once in their life. This means that almost every American will come to know, through their own experience or through those of a friend or family member, the importance that the small act of blood donation can make. Indeed, a single blood donation can help as many as three people. While 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, only about 5 percent of that population, or about 8.8 million Americans, actually do. According to the American Association of Blood Banks, the average donor is a college-educated white male between the ages of 30 and 50, who is married and has an above average income. Nevertheless, blood donations are increasingly coming from women and minority groups, engendering greater participation at the community level by members who seek to develop a more solid sense of neighborhood unity. America's blood supply is critical to our Nation's seniors. While those aged 69 years and older account for just 10 percent of the population, they require 50 percent of blood transfusions. This statistic will only increase with the aging of the Baby Boomer population, and the need for blood will be even greater. While there is no current, nationwide shortage of blood, regional and local shortages do occur. It is not hard to imagine that a major national trauma, such as a terrorist attack, disease, or natural disaster, could strain the blood supply even further. Since blood cannot be manufactured, the system is reliant on people to donate their blood. Mr. Speaker, donating blood is a small but entirely selfless act that does nothing but help those who need it most. Congress should support this endeavor, and encourage people to give blood as often as they can. This legislation provides a $50 tax deduction for individuals who donate blood, with a maximum deduction of $150 a year. This maximum reflects the advice of blood bank centers and institutions that encourage people to give blood three times a year. This relief is a small reward for people who do give, and an encouragement for those who might need that extra little push to attend a blood drive. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and call on the House to bring it expeditiously to the floor.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, October 10 marks the National Day of Taiwan, and I rise today in support and to congratulate this beacon of democracy and freedom. Taiwan has much to celebrate this National Day. It is a vibrant democracy where individual freedom is given the appreciation it certainly deserves. It is undeniable that Taiwan has moved rapidly toward full democracy. Elections for important posts in the government are held regularly, political parties have reached an established level of maturity, and people actively participate in the democratic process. Taiwanese citizens have a greater control over affairs of state than ever before. There are so many throughout the international community who sincerely appreciate the political aspirations of Taiwan. Taiwan stands like an obelisk of democracy and hope in the South China Sea. Unfortunately, so many throughout the world have never fully benefited from all that Taiwan has to offer. For example, many of the medical advancements made by Taiwanese doctors and scientists have not been shared with the world because Taiwan lacks WHO membership. Taiwan enjoys one of the highest life expectancy rates in Asia, has relatively low infant and maternal mortality rates, and has eradicated major infectious diseases such as cholera, smallpox, and polio. Additionally, Taiwan's government was the first in the world to provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations. The successes of Taiwan's medical experts must no longer remain locked in a chamber of politics, and access to these ideas must be extended to all countries. The international community must recognize that each country in the world will benefit multi-fold from Taiwan's inclusion in the WHO, even if it is just as an observer. Until then, individuals in need of medical assistance throughout the world will not fully benefit from the wonderful advancements Taiwan has made in the field of medicine. Mr. Speaker, health has no borders, and certainly neither does disease. Providing Taiwan with observer status in the WHO is long overdue. Taiwan is one of the most dramatic success stories of Asia. I join the people of Taiwan as they celebrate their National Day, and may America's support for the people of Taiwan be everlasting.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Judge A. Jay Cristol of the Southern District of Florida on the completion of his invaluable research on the USS Liberty incident. Judge Cristol's doctoral dissertation details the tragedy that befell the U.S. Navy ship USS Liberty in 1967 when Israeli aircraft fired upon the ship, killing 34 sailors and wounding 171 others. Judge Cristol's dogmatic search persuaded the National Security Agency to release classified transcripts proving that Israel's attack on the USS Liberty was an accident. Judge Cristol's research shows the Israeli forces attacked the American USS Liberty ship because they believed it was an Egyptian ship firing upon their coastline. Through his diligent work and dedication, Judge A. Jay Cristol has assisted in strengthening the relationship between the United States and Israel and resolving unanswered questions about this unfortunate tragedy. I applaud his efforts, and commend him for this important work. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in applauding Florida's Judge A. Jay Cristol on this important achievement.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my deep concerns about H.R. 10, the Republican Leadership's intelligence reorganization bill. There are many problems with this bill. As the Ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, I have been engaged in the debate on intelligence reorganization ever since 9/11. I was privileged to join 8 of my colleagues in April to introduce H.R. 4104, the Intelligence Transformation Act, which helped to inform the 9/11 Commission and was a precursor to the great debate we have had on intelligence reform over the last two months. The bill the House is now being asked to consider does not come close to reflecting the legislation that I and others introduced this April, and its flaws are many. The provisions contained in Title I are intended to strengthen intelligence, but they are far too weak. Where is the strong budget authority for the National Intelligence Director? Where is the strong hiring and firing authority for the National Intelligence Director? Where are the detailed provisions necessary for improving counterterrorism information sharing? Where is the National Counterterrorism Center's real power to coordinate counterterrorism operations? They are not in the Republican Leadership bill. Senators Collins and Lieberman have led a remarkable, bipartisan effort in the other body. They consulted with the 9/11 Commission and the 9/11 families. Their bill is a battle-tested product. If the House of Representatives is going to undertake a serious effort to improve our response to terrorism, we must do so seriously. We must improve this seriously-flawed bill.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The previous speaker, not the gentlewoman from Florida but the distinguished ranking member from New York, when speaking commented as to the site that could be viewed by one who was interested, and he said it was waysandmeans.house.com. I have been instructed that it was waysandmeans.house.gov. It is kind of catching up here, sort of like Vice President Cheney. You know, we can make those mistakes sometimes. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to yield 7 minutes to my good friend, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the non-voting Delegate that should be voting like all of us, especially on this subject, who on behalf of this community has pursued outstanding legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) for yielding me the customary time. Mr. Speaker, this rule is typical of that for most conference reports, and I will not oppose it. Mr. Speaker, there is no perfect legislation and certainly not when it comes to funding matters. The underlying conference report providing appropriations for the District of Columbia in fiscal year 2005 includes a variety of provisions that are controversial and detrimental to the District's residents and, frankly, the country as a whole. I do not have to tell my colleagues about the uniqueness of the District of Columbia as a Federal city. It is the only place in the Nation where constitutionally Congress can exercise micromanagement at the highest and lowest of levels. Taking into consideration the fact that the District of Columbia has no voting representation in Congress, we should be mindful of this privileged duty and careful not to put our parochial agendas on the table when considering this conference report. As the gentleman from Georgia mentioned, the report approves the expenditure of a total of $8.3 billion in local funds for the District and directly appropriates $560 million for various District programs and projects. It includes $25.6 million for a tuition assistance program for college-bound students, $3 million for improvements to the Anacostia waterfront area, $6 million for a new public school library initiative, and $5 million to improve foster care in the District. While there are many quality programs funded by the conference report, such as the ones I just mentioned, the report also includes legislative riders that are a smorgasbord of controversy. The report prohibits the use of funds for abortions, registering same-sex couples, and for the distribution of clean needles and syringes. None of these prohibitions were sought by the District, and they represent nothing more than the ideological impositions of the majority. Furthermore, deep down inside the conference report is what the majority has dubbed a three-pronged school choice program. This program is heralded by school voucher advocates as a way to improve academic performance while promoting school choice. The reality is, however, the approach is a direct cut in Congress' funding commitment to the District's public schools. That, Mr. Speaker, is an embarrassment to this institution. Our education system will never improve if we continue to divert our attention away from improving public schools, the schools that are free of cost and guaranteed to every child in America. Our public schools will never improve if we continue to underfund the No Child Left Behind Act. If the majority wants to point fingers at who is to fault for failures in our education system, then it ought to stop pointing fingers at the District of Columbia and start pointing them at all of our districts that have failing schools. In less than 3 years after its passage, the No Child Left Behind Act has been underfunded by President Bush and Congressional Republicans by more than $27 billion. Let me repeat that. In less than 3 years after its passage, the No Child Left Behind Act has been underfunded by President Bush and Congressional Republicans by more than $27 billion. If we want to have a real discussion about education, then let's have one. But let us be honest with the American people about what we are doing to the entire Nation's education system. Let us start telling the American people the truth and stop using the District as a petri dish of ideological shortcomings when considering the needs and lives of the residents of the Nation's Capital. It is high time that we as lawmakers in this great body stop playing political chess games with our responsibility to this process. We should allow the people of Washington, D.C., to govern themselves, and they should have a voting privilege in the House of Representatives. Funding for the education of the Nation's children and overall healthy well-being of its citizens should be our primary focus and goal. The D.C. appropriations bill is not the stage to act out our experimental projects that will not necessarily prove beneficial in the end. We must be mindful of the District's citizens that we have been given charge over. They are silenced in this process by the Constitution, and we must be responsible in our actions on their behalf. I urge my colleagues to consider this responsibility when voting on the underlying conference report.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Boyd).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Doyle).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Dakota (Mr. Pomeroy).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth), an outstanding new Member of the House of Representatives.